Blackjack for Beginners: What’s the Game All About?

Played by gambling enthusiasts in casinos all over the world, blackjack is a game that is easy to learn and also addictive. To win in the game, it is important to have a strong understanding of the basic game strategies and to be aware of the blackjack etiquette. The game is played with one or more 52-card decks, without any limit on the number of players. The winning objective is to earn 21 points, which are based on the value of all the cards a player has. Jacks, Kings, and Queens are set at 10 points each, cards numbered from 2 to 10 are calculated by their face value, and Aces are set at 1 or 11 points, depending on whichever provides better results at the end of the game.

Basic blackjack terms

Hit: Taking an additional card from the dealer is known as “Hit.” Players typically take a hit when the total value of their cards is 16 or less.

Stand: In a way, the opposite of “Hit” is “Stand.” In this situation, the player does not take another card from the dealer. Players are advised not to stand when the value of their cards is lower than 17.

Split: If you have two cards of the same value, you can double your bet and split them into two hands, and play each of them separately against the dealer. This increases your probability of winning. It is generally advisable to split two 8s in the game, but players are also known to successfully split Aces or other value cards.

Double down: If you’re left with only two cards in the game, you can double your bet in exchange for hitting only once. It is advisable to double down when you have a card with a value of 10 or 11.